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Five surprising ways that serious men talked about nuclear weapons in the 1950s and 60s

Nuclear weapons should always be spoken about carefully, shouldn't they? After all, they are about as serious a topic as you can get.

Well you might actually be surprised at some of the language used during nuclear negotiations.

A Very British Deterrent delved deep into the archives to tell the story of how Britain got its first submarine-launched nuclear missiles.

The British government engaged in complex negotiations with American presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson though the 1950s and 60s.

And behind the scenes men like Harold Macmillan, the British Prime Minister between 1957 and 1963, could come out with some very surprising turns of phrase.

Dog distraction

Harold Macmillan believed the British people were too distracted to think about the security implications of the Sputnik programme.

“The Russians have launched another and larger satellite with a little dawg in it which has created much alarm and despondency in US. The English people, with characteristic frivolity are much more exercised about the ‘little dawg’ than about the terrifying nature of these new developments in rocketry.”

Strong Highlanders

Macmillan was also worried about how Glaswegians would react to having a nuclear weapons base housed at the nearby Holy Loch.

“Loch Linnhe would be a far better location. From a security point of view, a robust population of three or four thousand highlanders at Fort William is much more to my taste than the rather mixed population in the cosmopolitan city of Glasgow.”

Stick ’em in the sea

But Macmillan wasn't the only person who had an unusual way with words.

The head of US Navy, Arleigh Burke, summed up his position – that nuclear weapons should be kept as far away from the American mainland as possible – with a catchy rhyme.

“Move deterrents out to sea / Where the real estate is free / And where they are far away from me.”

False description

President Kennedy tried to persuade the British to use a missile system called Skybolt, despite the fact it was known not to work very well.

Macmillan was distinctly unimpressed by this and used an expression which seemed apt given Kennedy's reputation for promiscuity.

“While the proposed marriage with Skybolt isn’t exactly a shot gun wedding, the virginity of the lady must now be regarded as doubtful.”

Nuclear competition

Harold Macmillan compared the desire for nuclear weapons to a competition between neighbours over who has the nicest stuff.

“It is partly a question of keeping up with the Joneses. Countries which have played a great role in history must retain their dignity. The UK does not want to be just a clown, or a satellite.”

  • A Very British Deterrent

    With Trident renewed for another generation, A Very British Deterrent tells the story of the remarkable events, eye-watering costs, power relationships and secret deals done half a century ago to secure Britain's very first submarine-launched nuclear missiles.